Readers' Rods - June 2013

Check out page 32 and you'll see Wayne Poe's '54 Merc in all its glory. He's always liked this year Mercury, and here's proof—his first '54 back in Clevelandin 1958.

"I was 17 years old and this was my first car. It was lowered all the way around and had the standard dual exhausts and moon discs. It was a 256ci V-8 with three on the tree. I swapped it out for a 312 Police Interceptor and it went like stink but started blowing up the stock Ford three-speed. After replacing a number of trannies, I got an aluminum adaptor and put in a Cad LaSalle box. After that it was a great car."

Shawn Zotynia

Charleston, Maine1953 Ford Custom Sedan

Shawn Zotynia of Charleston, Maine, built this '53 Ford Custom Sedan in his garage, saving it from the crusher. The rebuild lasted from October 2001 until 2012. He made as many parts as he could, buying very few. The engine is the original '53 Ford Flathead, which after a rebuild and the addition of a blower now makes 275 hp. It was painted by Shawn in the same garage where the car was built. He and his wife, Linda, did the upholstery and headliner. Their first effort, the white tuck 'n' roll with green piping took a month to complete. Summer 2012 saw the car ready to hit the shows, making all the effort worthwhile.

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Steve Hauge

Fergus Falls, Minnesota1950 Mercury

Michael Mortenson and his wife wanted to buy her dad his dream car, a '50 Mercury, but just couldn't afford it. Therefore, Michael decided that maybe he could build one instead. He had never built a car before but, in his words, was "stupid enough to try it". It was built from 2006 to 2009, starting with a rusty '50 Merc found in Devils Lake, North Dakota. He stripped it down and did the work in secret for three years. "My father-in-law once got within 50 feet of the car, and I had to spin him around real fast," he told us. "He didn't have a clue my wife and I were building it in our garage. Once we were finished with the car, we had a secret party for him, and surprised him with the car. Cool huh? It was one of the greatest days of my life, and it was only the second time my wife has seen her dad cry. Since finishing the car, her dad and I have shown the car twice, and feel really good about the car and what it has done for my wife's family."

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The Merc now has a Nova subframe and C-notched rear to accommodate the Nova rearend, a 355/350 combo, and airbags all around. A '54 Chevy grille with extra teeth sits at the front of the House of Kolor Brandywine–coated body, with ghost flames, covering the many mods, which include shaving, nosing, decking, and chopping the top, as well as a reverse-opening hood. Apparently Steve Hauge, the Merc's owner, is a subscriber to R&C, so seeing his car in print should surprise him one more time! Nice work, Michael!